Universal ankle support

Abstract

An ankle support is disclosed which includes an underliner extending about the wearer's leg at a point above the ankle joint and forming a main body for the ankle support. An upper strap extends about the underliner at a point above the ankle joint and is adjustable in tension. An upright strap is secured to the underliner and this upright strap extends downwardly on the medial side of the wearer's leg, under his arch and upwardly along the lateral side of the wearer's leg, where it is secured to the upper strap. A diagonal strap is secured to the upright strap and the underliner on the medial side of the wearer's leg and extends upwardly and forwardly across the wearer's ankle, and around the lateral side of the wearer's leg to be joined to the upper strap. This construction not only supports the ankle joint against inversion sprains, but provides support for the arch and the plantar fascia.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ankle support for a wearer's leg, comprising: an underliner defining a main body for said support, said underliner having generally a T-shape defined by a cross-piece having a forward and rear edge and an upright leg generally perpendicular to said cross-piece and positioned to be closer to said front edge than said rear edge;   a non-stretch upper strap of length sufficient to extend about the wearer's ankle secured on the exterior surface of the underliner so as to extend from a point intermediate said front and rear edges to a point beyond said rear edge to a free end of said upper strap;   first securing means for inelastically securing said upper strap about a wearer's leg so that the tension of said strap may be selectively adjusted;   a non-stretch upright strap secured to the exterior surface of said underliner so as to be secured to a portion of said upper strap, to extend along the leg portion of said underliner, and to extend beyond said leg portion thereof to terminate in a free end;   second securing means for securing the free end of said upright strap with said upper strap so that the free end of said upright strap maybe selectively positioned relative to said upper strap;   a diagonal strap secured to said upright strap and said underliner so as to be oriented diagonally relative to said upright strap and extending upwardly towards the forward edge of said cross-piece to a free end of said diagonal strap; and   third securing means for securing the free end of said diagonal strap to selected position on said upper strap.   
     
     
       2. An ankle support in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first securing means comprises a first component of a hook-and-pile closure material formed on a first surface of said upper strap and the other component of a hook-and-pile closure material formed on the opposite surface of said upper strap at the free end thereof. 
     
     
       3. A ankle support in accordance to claim 2, wherein said second securing means comprises a portion made up of said other component of a hook-and-pile closure material formed at the free end of said upright strap in a position to cooperate with the first hook-and-pile closure material surface on said upper strap. 
     
     
       4. An ankle support in accordance with claim 3, wherein said third securing means comprises a portion made up of said other component of a hook-and-pile closure material formed at the free end of said diagonal strap in a position to cooperate with the first hook-and-pile closure material surface on said upper strap. 
     
     
       5. An ankle support in accordance with claim 2, wherein said third securing means comprises a portion made up of said other component of a hook-and-pile closure material formed at the free end of said diagonal strap in a position to cooperate with the first hook-and-pile closure material surface on said upper strap. 
     
     
       6. An ankle support in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a portion said first of type of said hook-and-pile material secured to said underliner so as to depend from said upper strap. 
     
     
       7. A ankle support in accordance to claim 6, wherein said second securing means comprises a portion made up of said other component of a hook-and-pile closure material formed at the free end of said upright strap in a position to cooperate with the first hook-and-pile closure material surface on said upper strap. 
     
     
       8. An ankle support in accordance with claim 7, wherein said third securing means comprises a portion made up of said other component of a hook-and-pile closure material formed at the free end of said diagonal strap in a position to cooperate with the first hook-and-pile closure material surface on said upper strap. 
     
     
       9. An ankle support in accordance with claim 1, further comprising fan-shaped lower corners formed at the forward end rear edges of said cross-piece. 
     
     
       10. An ankle support as in claim 1 wherein said diagonal strap is secured to said underliner by means of stitching which includes a row of stitching generally perpendicular to said cross-piece. 
     
     
       11. An ankle support for a wearer's leg comprising: an underliner defining a main body for said support and being formed to fit about the wearer's leg at a point above his ankle;   an non-stretch upper strap secured to the exterior surface of said underliner at a point above the ankle joint so as to extend about the wearer's leg;   first securing means for selectively adjusting the tension of said upper strap about the wearer's leg;   a non-stretch upright strap secured to the exterior surface of said underliner and to said upper strap so as to extend downwardly therefrom, under the user's arch and upwardly along the other side of the user's leg to terminate in a free end;   second securing means for securing the free end of said upright strap to said upper strap on the other side of the user's leg;   a diagonal strap secured to said upright strap and said underliner proximate to the point of securement of said upper strap and said upright strap to said underliner, said diagonal strap extending upwardly and forwardly across the front of the user's leg, along said other side of said leg and rearwardly to terminate in a free end; and   third securing means for securing the free end of said diagonal strap to said upper strap.   
     
     
       12. An ankle support in accordance with claim 11, wherein said first securing means comprises a first component of a hook-and-pile closure material formed on a first surface of said upper strap and the other component of a hook-and-pile closure material formed on the opposite surface of said upper strap at the free end thereof. 
     
     
       13. A ankle support in accordance to claim 12, wherein said second securing means comprises a portion made up of said other component of a hook-and-pile closure material formed at the free end of said upright strap in a position to cooperate with the first hook-and-pile closure material surface on said upper strap. 
     
     
       14. An ankle support in accordance with claim 13, wherein said third securing means comprises a portion made up of said other component of a hook-and-pile closure material formed at the free end of said diagonal strap in a position to cooperate with the first hook-and-pile closure material surface on said upper strap. 
     
     
       15. An ankle support in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a portion of said first of type of said hook-and-pile material secured to said underliner so as to depend from said upper strap. 
     
     
       16. An ankle support in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a portion of said underliner extending behind said upright strap so as to be interposed therebetween and the arch of the wearer's foot. 
     
     
       17. An ankle support in accordance with claim 11, further comprising fan-shaped lower corners formed at the forward end rear edges of said cross-piece. 
     
     
       18. An ankle support as in claim 1 wherein said diagonal strap is secured to said underliner by means of stitching which includes a row of stitching generally perpendicular to said cross-piece.